A great quote in the story comes from Dave Levinthal of the Center for Responsive Politics, which keeps tabs on campaign spending.

“The Democrats brought a bat, and the Republicans brought a grenade. If you think spending is out of control by outside groups, it likely will blow your mind in the presidential election.”

He’s talking about what to expect in 2012, and if these mid-terms were only a harbinger of what’s to come, it does make you cringe.

Additional money could be used to fuel the positive sides of campaigns, such as advertisements touting a candidate’s virtues, and paying for those earnest canvassers who want to get you to promise to vote for their candidate.

But let’s not be naive. Odds are, such resources very much would be dedicated to the stark attack ads that, as much as we all hate to admit it, are effective.

Gay marriage won’t be more of an issue 25 years from now than interracial marriage is today.

A lot of people question the motives of members of Congress. They think they’re all lying and cheating and taking money from the public trough. But, remember, it’s 435 people. Take any group that big and you’re going to have adulterers and embezzlers and a statistically representative sampling of human fallibility. By and large, though, most of the 435 members of Congress are good, honest Americans.

Lady Gaga is one of the most amazingly talented musicians to bring her gifts to humanity in a long time.

In a new video, former Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez rips his Democratic sucessor, Ed Perlmutter, noting Perlmutter votes with Nancy Pelosi more than 98 percent of the time.

Beauprez then asks whether anyone thinks that kind of voting record is in line with the 7th Congressional District, which has an almost an equal number of Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters.

Keep in mind Beauprez voted with George W. Bush 98 percent of the time during his four years representing the 7th District.

UPDATE:The New York Times has a story about this trend. You can read it by clicking here.

A mailer to voters in the 4th Congressional District.

Democrats are taking advantage of Tom Tancredo’s popularity by pointing out to 4th Congressional District voters that a member of Tancredo’s own party is on the ballot in that race.

The efforts to link Doug Aden of the American Constitution Party to Tancredo, the ACP’s gubernatorial nominee, and a no-frills, less-government agenda no doubt annoys Republican Cory Gardner but it delights supporters of Democrat Betsy Markey.

What a difference a year makes — just ask Republican Ryan Frazier, who has Democrat Ed Perlmutter on the run.

Bob Martinez, former state GOP chair.

I was looking through my photographs today for a picture of Jon Caldara at an anti health-care reform press conference and came across pictures of Frazier announcing he was pulling out of the U.S. Senate race, and running in the 7th Congressional District instead.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.